 Kristin grew up in Everett and ultimately graduated from Northwest Hair Academy (NWHA), a Paul Mitchell school. While attending NWHA she participated on the Design Team, Green Team, Student Council, and Take Home Team. About joining Elle Marie, Kristin explains, "I was in beauty school when Elle Marie came to talk about the salon and I fell in love with it then. I loved everything that the girls had to say about the salon....that we are more of a family than just a bunch of girls that work together. So I started externing while I was still in school to get hours in a salon environment. This is the only salon that I wanted to work at and I am so lucky that when I go to work it gets to be here!" Given her passion for the industry, supportive team attitude, and commitment to excellence, she quickly earned herself a spot behind the chair.
While Kristin's favorite haircut to perform is the inverted bob, she says, "I love doing Locks of Love haircuts as well because the guest is so excited to help a child that is suffering and at the same time I'm able to give my quest a whole new look."
Although Kristin loves working in the hair industry, she admits that her true passion is singing. She performs onstage weekly as a member of the Gold Creek Community Church Worship Team. "I started singing my junior year of high school and fell in love with it. I was in Select Jazz Choir, Honor Choir, and Concert Choir at Everett High School both years! After I graduated in '06 I auditioned for Soundsation - a select jazz choir at Edmonds Community College. I was in that for a year and we traveled around the area and to Europe! Jazz is my favorite to sing because I'm an alto all the way! I went to Vanguard University for a semester to find out that hair was my passion!" says Kristin.
When asked about her favorite place to travel, Kristin states, "New York is my favorite place because my dream is to perform on Broadway! And Time Square ROCKS!" As for her Broadway aspirations, Kristin says, "I would probably want to be any part in Wicked and I would want to sing 'For Good' which is in Wicked. But this is a really hard question to answer because I would be a stage hand to be anywhere near the talent on Broadway! Who knows, maybe I'll get myself there someday to do some hair!"
Kristin's musical interests include Carrie Underwood, Rascall Flatts, and Kelly Pickler.
From the start, Kristin fit right in with the Elle Marie team. This can probably be attributed to her approach to life as she admits, "I'm a pretty simple person - down to earth and go with the flow."
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"Today was my first visit to Elle Marie Hair Studio after recently moving to WA from out of state. The tastefully decorated salon is clean, the stations are tidy, and there's a nice, friendly vibe. The staff seems happy and they make efforts to create a positive experience for clients by hanging up your coat, serving you tea or coffee in a china cup and saucer with a napkin- no icky styrofoam, and they'll dry and style your hair before you leave at no extra charge (I am used to being sent out the door towel-dried with a dollop of mousse, because I haven't wanted to pay extra $$ for drying/styling).
My appointment was with Kristin, who may be one of the youngest members of the staff, possibly with the least years of experience; but, as her bio indicates, her beauty school education was supplemented with early training at Elle Marie, and gaining knowledge in a reputable salon is a great choice for a designer's career path, (and better than a "self-taught" person with less instruction and possibly also bad habits). Kristin is personable and asks a lot of questions about your hair and your wishes, and then gives you a quote for the services so there is no "sticker shock" at the end of a first time visit, even though the salon's prices are reasonable and competitive. She gave me an excellent foil highlighting, and then we went to the shampoo bowl, where you recline in a massaging chair, which was pleasant. Kristin is slightly aggressive for a "tenderheaded" person like me who doesn't like to be "scrubbed" and have her hair wrung and stretched, but if you prefer a vigorous, energetic scalp massage and don't have delicate lightened hair like mine, then she would be just perfect for you. (However, I was very comfortable with her touch during comb-out, chemical services and styling). Kristin gave me a great haircut, and it was exactly what I asked for. Not only am I growing my hair out, but since it has a bit of natural wave it tends to "shrink up" and so seems even shorter when it's cut too short. Happily, Kristin is capable of giving a Trim and reshaping your hair without taking unnecessary inches. She excels at blow out styling with a round-brush, and in minutes my usually fine, naturally wavy & fuzzy-textured hair looked chic!"
~ Michele D. - Bothell, WA (E-mail to Kristin on 1/8/10.)
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